Purple robes, silver hair, the picture of a gentle, refined gentleman. On the empty bluestone zither platform stood him alone, with a single zither, amid the drifting mist between the mountains—like a single grain in the vast sea. And yet, even so, he was someone people simply couldn’t look away from.
No small number of women in the crowd were struck dumb with admiration. No one knew who it was, but suddenly someone cried out, “That’s Xuanyuan Lige!”
Xuanyuan Lige—this name resounded across the Longyuan continent, the world’s foremost zither master. Naturally, there were those who recognized him!
Elder Qin immediately laughed and called out loudly, “Whether it’s truly young master Xuanyuan or not, you’ll know once you hear the music!”
Amid the uproar that followed, the young man on the zither platform remained utterly composed, entirely unaffected. The moment Elder Qin’s words fell, he had already set the Bloodstring zither in place. In that instant of lowering his head, he glanced toward Ziqing. He clearly hadn’t smiled, yet somehow, Ziqing felt certain he had smiled at her—a smile as clean and pure as the clarity in his eyes.
What did he mean, waiting for her?
“Clang…”
The music began, the first note low and resonant, striking straight into the heart without warning. Her heart inexplicably trembled at it!
It wasn’t only Ziqing who felt this—everyone around her felt the same, many of them unconsciously pressing a hand to their chest.
Whether it was him, or the Bloodstring zither—in truth, a single note was enough!
No one dared to doubt it, nor had anyone the leisure to doubt it—everyone had already been drawn in by that first note. Even though Xuanyuan Lige paused for a long while before plucking out the second, “Clang!”
Just like the first, it was as if some invisible force came rushing forward, slamming straight into the heart!
Ziqing began to feel her chest constrict. The sound that struck her heart didn’t fade—it seemed to turn into an invisible boulder, pressing down upon her chest!
Suddenly—”Clang!” The third note!
Ziqing sensed something was wrong and immediately withdrew her focus, refusing to pay attention to the music. And then, on the viewing platforms surrounding the zither stage, a number of guards began spitting blood one after another.
By the conventions of the martial world, one made friends through martial arts; at a zither gathering, one made friends through music. Everyone knew this music was never meant merely for enjoyment!
Only, no one had expected that this year, the very opening would prove so perilous!
Just as everyone began to recover their senses, it was already too late. Xuanyuan Lige, who had originally been plucking the strings with just one finger, now used all ten fingers of both hands—suddenly the sound became a chaotic, discordant torrent!
This was the first time Ziqing had heard him play something so chaotic. And yet, she knew that within this chaos there had to be order—the more chaotic it seemed, the more it could disturb the mind!
In moments, those with insufficient martial skill or mental fortitude either vomited fresh blood or stared blankly into space; the scene began to descend into chaos and panic.
Even Patriarch Gu’s brow furrowed tightly, his expression grave, his usually stern gaze visibly beginning to waver. Beside him, Jiang Chen and Gu Suying had already gone slack-eyed, their souls entirely captured by the music!
If even Patriarch Gu was faring this poorly, what hope did anyone else have?
Only Elder Qin and Elder Se remained unaffected—one stroking his beard, head tilted, listening intently, the very picture of appreciation!
Ziqing studied them for a moment, unable to help but feel admiration. Xuanyuan Lige had told her she was immune to the demonic zither’s influence because it was innate to her—but these two elders had surely cultivated their resistance through years of practice!
What Ziqing didn’t know, however, was that not far away, Jun Beiyue, dressed in mysterious black combat attire, sat sprawled carelessly on a corner of a rooftop, enjoying the music with even greater ease than the two elders!
As he listened, the corner of his lips curved into a cold, wicked smirk. Xuanyuan Lige was truly not to be underestimated!
The music grew faster and faster, sweeping without pause from the lowest note all the way up to the highest, the impact on the heart like the pounding of war drums—thump, thump, thump, striking relentlessly!
Finally, even Patriarch Gu couldn’t hold on any longer—with a “phht,” he spat out a mouthful of fresh blood!
The two elders exchanged a glance, then smiled with satisfaction. Ziqing finally understood—no matter how much the Qu family claimed to stay out of worldly affairs, this gathering held once every fifteen years was undoubtedly meant to declare to the world the Qu family’s unrivaled supremacy!
What was the Gu family compared to that?
Nearly everyone had fallen, every last person injured. And it was at this moment that the two elders turned their gaze toward Ziqing—among the several hundred people present, she alone remained completely unharmed!
Xuanyuan Lige looked toward her a second time, and this time, Ziqing saw it clearly—he really was smiling, and smiling so slyly!
Her heart gave a start as she suddenly understood his intention—this man meant to push her toward the Qu family!
Suddenly, the music shifted abruptly, and Ziqing no longer had the leisure to consider what the melody itself was doing. Because—because at this very moment, she could clearly feel that every note flowing from Xuanyuan Lige’s fingers was directed entirely at her!
In that vast, open square, the sound was concentrated entirely toward her, toward her alone—even the people around her couldn’t hear it!
No!
Ziqing felt an inexplicable panic rise in her. That Xuanyuan Lige possessed such an ability was simply unbelievable!
At last, such music could no longer be ignored. No matter how she tried to steady her mind, she couldn’t shut it out. Her heart began to waver, her thoughts beginning to drift uncontrollably toward the music, as if by instinct, imagining the story hidden within its notes.
Ziqing knew she had to act now—she had to counter it with music of her own!
In the distance, Jun Beiyue had already risen to his feet. He could see clearly that Xuanyuan Lige was playing, yet for some reason he couldn’t hear any sound.
Suspicious, he was just about to move closer when, at that very moment, a figure suddenly came flying in from the main gate. Looking closely, it was a man in white, mounted on horseback, who charged through the gate and straight up onto the viewing platform. His horse’s hooves found purchase on the last row of seats, launching violently into the air, arcing in a perfect curve clear over the entire viewing platform, over the heads of every honored guest, and landing directly on the zither platform!
“Clang!”
Xuanyuan Lige’s hand stopped abruptly, and the music ceased with it. In an instant, the entire arena fell utterly silent. Ziqing’s hand, which had been resting on her wuzheng, stiffened slightly before she withdrew it without a trace.
The uninvited guest wore a brocade-white riding outfit and held a green vine in his hand. He was tall and slender—though quite tall, he lacked the broad, imposing build of a typical man, more aptly described as willowy. His features were fine and handsome, striking, especially the lively, spirited eyes. Compared to the already slight Xuanyuan Lige, it was almost a pity he’d been born a man and was slighter still—had he been born a woman, he would surely have been a great beauty!
Though delicate in appearance, his expression was arrogant and full of wild pride. Arriving late to such an occasion, he dared to make such a grand entrance, sitting high on his horse without so much as a glance at anyone present!
He looked down upon Xuanyuan Lige with haughty disdain, seeming to find him rather interesting.
Then, suddenly, Elder Qin slammed his palm on the table and roared in fury, “Whose brat dares to barge into my Qinse Valley gathering!”
Even the Gu family, first among the great clans, showed the Qu family deference. Where did this young upstart get the arrogance to act so wildly?
Only then did the man turn to look, cupping his hands together in a bow, and said with a smile, “This junior is Bai Feiyao, come at the Bai family’s invitation. I was delayed on the road and arrived late—I ask the two elders’ forgiveness.”
At these words, Ziqing couldn’t help but frown. So this was the young master of the Bai family?
What an arrogant fellow!